Combined spout and valve structure



Dec. 20, 1955 H, A 'MART COMBINED SPOUT AND VALVE STRUCTURE Filed June 50 1951 ar ya 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

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COMBINED SPOUT AND VALVE STRUCTURE Filed June 50, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 2.2 I I 1 CL FIIIIII. 2

INVENTOR. l/aryA/Wczrzi waif? United States Patent 9 COMBINED SPOUFIZ AND VALVE-LSTRUC'DURE:

Harry, A. Marfiflhicago, Ill;

Application June 30,1951, Serial Nb: 234,550-

2 Claims. (Cl..2225 3,6)-

This inventionrelates'to' acombined pouring spout and valve fora fluid-storing and fluid-dispensing receptacle. Specifically'it relates to a device adapted to be fitted to or incorporated as part of a receptacle, and including a spout rotatably cooperative with a fixed-body; theztspout and body having .passagesarranged to-be moved relativel'y into or out of alignment forpermitting fiow of fluid from the receptacle and for interrupting suchflow.

While" I- am aware that devices ofthe' character afore said" have been well known, all of them have incorporated relatively movable metallic'par-ts sothatthe prob lem of sealing against leakagehas dictated the'ernploymeat of yieldabl'e gasliets and packi'ngs ofvari'ous types; Not only has this rendered the devicesiper se expensive tom'anufacture and assemble, but: where the devices are to be added to a receptacleas separately assembldcomponents thereof, there existed the additional problem of securing a tight fit between the receptacle proper and the device. Accordingly screw threaded unions, packings and other relatively costly expedients-were resortedto.

In particular the re-fillin'gl of cigar and. cigarette lighters with liquid fuel. has. created a substantial demand for containers of such fue'li having integral pouring spouts. These have taken various forms. For'example; a rigid lead spout having. a screw-threaded. or frictionally held cap for closing. the exit. thereof, while simple, possesses the disadvantage that the separable. capi may very easily be lost, with the consequence that. inadequate temporary stoppers are used, or the nozzle: is left open and: the fuel permitted to evaporate- Moreover during. periods of national emergency metals such as lead; or similarly functioning metals and alloys become critical and: their consumption for the purpose indicated has' been: severely restricted.

Also known are combined. nozzle andavalve structures in which a metal nozzle is frictionally carried in. amolded plastic body and arranged for. rotation in; a boreformed therein, e. g. as disclosed in my co+pending application Serial No. 145,391, filled: February 21, 1950,. now Patent No. 2,625,304. It has been found: that leakage may occur between the nozzle and body by virtueof the: fact that the comparatively rigid metal nozzle: does not accommodate itself readily to the only slightly more yieldable surface of the plastic body.

Having in view the shortcomings of the devices heretofore alluded to and of those others to which reference has not been specifically made, the principal object. of the invention is to provide a combined spout and valvestructure for a fluid-dispensing receptacle which contains no relatively movable metallic surfaces, or a pair of surfaces one of which may be metal.

Another object is to provide a structure as aforesaid in which the body or fixed valve part comprises a composition having a substantial degree of resilience, andthe movable valve part including the" spout comprises a. material adapted to slidably coact with the hired part with a minimum of friction, and yet allow the resiliency of 2 the 'fixedipart to exert fluid-tight contact with the movablepart.

Aiurther object residesin the provision-of a combined spout: and valve so arranged' asto insure locking of'the spouti'in the off position thereby to obviate accidental opening thereof.

Another object is toprovide' a structureas; aforesaid in which means is provided for reliably maintaining the spout in on position.

Still another object is to provide a device. as pointed out comprisingonly two parts.

An. additional object is to provide. a. two-part selfcontained device having a valve body'including asocket, andxa nozzle part including a. knuckle adapted for rotation in the socket, the parts being: so constructed'as. to allow initial assembly thereof but which are incapable of being inadvertently relatively dislodged.

A- further object residesin providing a. movable spout in which the spout is utilized as a handle for. operating the valve.

Another object. is to provide a structure in accordance with the foregoing objects. which is simple, economical in theamountof material used, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other, objects will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in-which latter:

Fig; 1 shows av sidev elevation view of a receptacle together with the invention: device;

Fig. 2 is a side-elevational view of the device taken in. the, direction of the arrows 2,-2, and; showing the spout in fiuid-delivering-position.

Fig. 3 is a plan view taken in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of Fig. 1';

Fig. 4- shows a vertical cross section through the device, with the spout in off position;

Fig. 5. shows a vertical cross section taken on. the line 5--5.of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6. shows a front elevation of a modified; form; of the invention;

Fig. 7 shows a side elevation of the structure of Fig. 6,;

Fig. 8 is a top plan viewof the structure; of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 shows a cross. section taken on the line 9-.9 of Fig. 7

Fig. 10 shows a cross section taken on the line.10,10 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view taken in the direction of the arrows 1111 of Fig. 6

Broadly regarded the invention contemplates the provision of a valve body arranged to be attached in any suitable manner to the, liquid container or to be incorporated integrally therewith, the body comprising material characterized by a substantial degree of resilience, and having a socket defined therein. The opening into the socket is arranged to permit the forcible insertion thereinto of a knuckle forming part of a movable spout, Whereafter the inherent elasticity of the socket will cause the wall thereof to resume substantially its original position. The dimensions of the socket and knuckle are such as to result in a firm pressure being exerted bythe former on the latter of such degree as to insure a fluid-tight joint therebetween. However the degree of embrace upon the knuckle is so predetermined as to permit the spout to be swung angularly in order that the bore through the. spout may be moved into and out of registry with an aperture of the valve body and which aperture is in fluid communication with the interior of the receptacle. Preferably the opening in the socket through which the knuckle is forced during assembly is so arranged that the spout is firmly retained against. accidental movement from one position to the other, but yet. will permit, the spent to be manipulated with only moderate digital pressure.

While in what follows the invention will be described as a separate device adapted to be secured to a container of a common type which is provided with a neck for attachment of a dispensing nozzle of a preferred type, it will be comprehended that the invention may be integrated with the container, as for example one consisting of polyethylene and having walls of substantial flexibility in order that liquid may be forced through the nozzle by collapsing the walls of the container, and to a much greater degree than is possible with a sheet metal wall.

Turning to Fig. 1 a liquid container 10, e. g. of sheet metal, is shown as provided with a neck 11 protruding from the top thereof and terminated at its outer edge in a peripheral head 12. Such container and its neck follow conventional practice, and in fact comprises a stock item with many manufacturers. Accordingly the invention is capable of being incorporated with such standard design of container with no alteration in the latter.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 5, the body 15 of the valve, in a preferred form thereof, comprises a hollow cylindrical part 16, an annular part 17 and a socket 18, formed of material having a substantial degree of elasticity and pliancy, i. e. characterized by ability to resume a pre-existing configuration following deformation. For example, certain plastic compositions, particularly those known as polyethylene and cellulose acetate butyrate, with or without plasticizers, are particularly adaptable, not only because they possess this quality but are extremely stable under ordinary temperatures. Consequently the constrictive ability required by the socket of the invention remains constant over an extended period.

The socket 13 is preferably spherical over its interior as indicated at 21, and is adapted to receive a concentric spherical knuckle 22 forming part of the nozzle or spout member 23 and whereby relative rotation between the socket and spout is permitted. In order that a fluid-tight seal may be realized between the parts the radius of the knuckle 22 is preferably slightly in excess of that of the socket cavity 21. Thus the resiliency of the material employed is effective in causing the wall 29 to embrace the knuckle snugly. It is important that the relative radii be so selected as to result in a reliable seal without creating such friction between the parts that manipulation of the spout is rendered dificult. The texture of the relatively sliding faces is also a factor, a waxy or similar surface, such as characterizes polyethylene, being preferred.

Cavity 21 is in communication with the neck 11, and accordingly with the interior of the receptacle 10 by virtue of an opening 25. The nozzle proper 26 extends radially from the knuckle 22 and both are traversed by a passage 27, which, when the member 23 is rotated from its horizontal position (indicated by broken lines in Fig. 5), is placed in communication with the opening 25.

Thus fluid may be expelled through the spout in any of the angular positions which the spout may be caused to assume, and which will align the inner end of the passage 27 with the opening 25. It will be apparent that such range of discharge positions of the spout will depend upon the diameter of the opening 25. Such opening is indicated exemplificatively as circular, although it will be clear that a rectangular slot having its longer axis parallel to the plane of rotation of the spout member must be regarded as equivalent.

In order to assemble the spout member with the socket a quadrantal slot 31 is provided in the wall and is of such configuration that the spherical knuckle 22 may be forced therethrough into assembled position. The dimensions of the slot will, of course, depend upon the relative dimensions of the part 15 and of the knuckle as well as the elastic character of the materials employed. In the event the spout member is relatively non-deformable, then at least the material of the socket must possess such required elasticity, or if both parts are deformable to a degree then during assembly the knuckle may be allowed to compress while the socket is expanded. Alternatively it is within the scope of the invention to provide a rela tively non-deformable socket and a somewhat compressible knuckle. It will also be understood that assembly may be effected from below by inserting the knuckle 23 through the opening 25. However in this case also deformation of the body 15 is required, inasmuch as the opening 25 must be smaller than the knuckle in order that retention from below is assured.

If desired the slot 31 may be enlarged slightly at its ends, as at 33 and 34, and of a diameter equal to that of the nozzle 26 at its inner end. Thus the nozzle may be temporarily seized at its two extreme positions for insurance against inadvertent dislodgement therefrom. By reason of the elasticity of the wall 18 intentional movement of the nozzle may be effected, the sides of the slot 31 yielding during such action, or, in the case where the socket is of a lower degree of elasticity than the spout will be compressed during such actuation.

In Fig. 4 the spout member 23 is shown in off position. It will be comprehended that I may, if desired, so arrange the opening 25 as to provide for the horizontal position of the spout member as on position, and the vertical position as off. Such alternative simply requires that the interior face of wall 18 be provided with a channel or groove extending from the opening 25 to a region coextensive with the inner end of the passage 27, and that the left hand wall (Fig. 4) of the opening 25 is located to the right of the passage 27 when the spout member is in vertical or off position in order to block such passage.

Turning now to Figs. 6 to 11 which show a modified embodiment of the invention, the principal departure from the preferred form heretofore described resides in the use of a cylindrical knuckle 22a working in a socket 18a, the wall of which defines a congruent substantially cylindrical cavity 21a. Otherwise the construction follows that of Figs. 2 to 5, and similar or similarly functioning parts are therefore given the same reference numerals or are indicated with a sufiix. Assembly of the parts and the manner of operation will be apparent as a result of the detailed description hereinabove.

While I have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I therefore contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A two-piece valve and spout device for a liquiddispensing receptacle comprising a body having a wall defining a cylindrical cavity therein, a spout member including a cylindrical knuckle frictionally and rotatably supported in said cavity and a nozzle extending exeriorly of said cavity for dispensing liquid from the receptacle, said knuckle and body having passages for providing fluid communication between the bore of said nozzle and the interior of the receptacle when said spout member is in a predetermined angular position, said wall having a slot corresponding to a cutting plane which reduces said socket to a truncated surface of revolution greater than whereby the curved wall of said socket part in all operative positions of the spout part embraces said knuckle over mutually contacting portions of both thereof to prevent inadvertent dislodgment of said spout part during manipulation, and said body comprising material having a degree of resiliency such that said wall may be deformed to enable insertion of said knuckle through said opening into said cavity while distending the margin of said opening, the minimum dimension of said knuckle being greater than the width of said slot for subsequent retention of said knuckle in said cavity by the constrictive force of said wall, the resiliency of said body restoring the margin of the opening'for that purpose and the portions of the wall overlying said knuckle, due to their resiliency, apply forces normally to the direction of the slidingly contacting faces of the knuckle and cavity to provide a fluid-tight seal therebetween.

2. A valve and spout device for attachment to a fluidcontaining receptacle for dispensing fluid therefrom comprising a body part including a socket constituted interiorly as a surface of revolution and a portion for securement to the receptacle, a spout part manipulatable there in and for coaction with said body part having a knuckle constituted as a surface of revolution congruent with, and rotatable within said socket, and a nozzle provided with a bore extending from said knuckle, said body having an opening corresponding to a cutting plane which reduces said socket to a truncated surface of revolution greater than 180 whereby the curved wall of said socket part in all operative positions of the spout part embraces said knuckle over mutually contacting portions both thereof to prevent inadvertent dislodgment of said spout part during manipulation and through which opening said nozzle extends for manipulation between dispensing and nondispensing positions, said spout part having a bore therethrough forming a continuation of the nozzle bore and opening on the exterior of said knuckle in a region whereat said exterior is in contact with said socket, said body part having a bore in fluid communication with the interior of the receptacle and arranged for fluid communication with the bore in the knuckle part when the knuckle part is moved to dispensing position, both said body part and knuckle part comprising relatively hard, elastic material whereby said knuckle may be initially seated in said socket by forcing said knuckle through said opening while distending the margin of said opening, the respective dimensions of the knuckle and socket being such that the wall of the socket, following insertion of the knuckle, exerts a compressive force to retain the knuckle resiliently and frictionally in the socket, and thereafter provides a constrictive force sealing the junction of said bores against leakage when the knuckle part is moved to non-dispensing position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,051,688 Cole Ian. 28, 1913 1,056,855 Tamagno Mar. 25, 1913 1,683,997 Strafus Sept. 11, 1928 2,545,350 Fuld Mar. 13, 1951 2,546,194 Ilivadas Mar. 27, 1951 

